Compare towns
Athens vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Newbury has the most renters (32.2% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Athens | Plainfield | Windham | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431 |
1,314Highest |
594 |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.3±14Highest 12% above VT |
| Newbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±9.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newbury and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Newbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$76,250±$23k 6% below VT |
| Windham and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$275,900±$28k 13% below VT |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,259±$401Highest about the VT average |
| Newbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,943Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51%±25.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.